Residents block Cockburn Gardens road to protest 'Breezy' killing

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Ian Allen/Photographer
Burning debris along Mahoe Drive in Cockburn Gardens, St Andrew. The residents blocked the road to protest the shooting of a member of the community.

A day after the death of Omar Mahoney, otherwise known as 'Breezy,' residents of York Street in St Andrew, on Friday, showed their frustration by setting tree branches and other items ablaze along Hagley Park Road.

Mahoney was shot and killed by the police in an incident which Senior Superintendent of Police Gary Francis said was a shoot-out.

The police had to be called in to remove the debris, which was used to block the roads.

One resident told The STAR that 17 persons have died in the community since December last year. They alleged that the police have been antagonising them for months, and claim that the lawmen are responsible for some of the deaths.

“The police dem come and run off the likkle people dem off the road and come back in before morning and kick-off the people dem gate that is locked, and a jump over the people dem fence a wake people outa dem bed and a kill dem,” an agitated protester said.

He said that the manner in which Mahoney died deviates from what the police are reporting.